Project Outcomes: • Increased engagement of women and children, who are homeless due to domestic violence, in the use of Information Communication Technology; • Improved self confidence and self esteem of women and children using Information Communication Technology to aid independence, recovering and moving on from abuse and homelessness; • Increased use of Information Technology to support children and mother/child bonding. Project Details: Domestic Violence and the resulting Homelessness is a complex issue, providing women and their children with a safe place to live is not enough to connect them with mainstream society. Giving women and children realistic tools to start new lives is complicated and innovative ways to empower women and children and give them the confidence to move forward. We aim to give women and children some of these tools through Information Communication Technology. Women and children who have suffered domestic violence are vulnerable to immediate and long term mental health effects including anxiety, depression, eating disorders and self harm. Research has also shown that domestic violence has a detrimental impact on a woman’s employment contributing to long term poverty. Among employed women who have suffered domestic violence in the last year, 21 per cent took time off work and 2 per cent lost their jobs (Women’s Aid). With the help of ICT women will be able to make decisions and provisions for the future which will affect the lives of the rest of the family this will include applying for jobs, looking for houses, locating new schools, doctor’s surgeries etc. They will be able to access further information on domestic violence, support services and specific information on their often complex health and financial issues. Women will be able to use ICT to access online learning courses and/or information about local college and university courses, aiding employment and long term financial security. Access to ICT will increase life skills, for example online shopping and budgeting, and will allow women the opportunity to respond to government consultations on policies and services which affect them as survivors of domestic violence. Mothers will have the opportunity to explore available services and activities for children in the local community and in addition the provision of ICT will provide a much needed social respite in what is often a claustrophobic and extremely stressful setting. Due to Domestic Violence children often can not attend school, their education is severely disrupted. Access to ICT will enable children to progress with educational activities, as well as providing much needed respite and a social outlet for young people who have been through a traumatic period in their lives. Children’s Workers at The Haven implement a programme of play therapy which helps children overcome domestic violence using play techniques e.g. art work, games, collage, puppets etc. The use of ICT will develop this programme enabling the inclusion of online games and consultation into play therapy. We have recently developed The Haven’s website to include a children’s section which has competitions, games, feedback and information on domestic violence. The children will be able to access the website, along with Hide Out, a children’s interactive and impressive site on domestic violence (ran by Women’s Aid). The mother/child relationship is often negatively affected in domestic violence situations. Mothers may be physically and/or emotionally unavailable and children can feel loyalty towards their father and anger over the loss of family, friends, toys and pets. The use of ICT will encourage mother/child bonding. Together the mum and her child can explore information on domestic violence, make choices for their future and also enjoy their relationship through games and activities. The need for the project has been identified through feedback from service users on individual support planning. Women felt that they could do more for their future (and the future of their children) whilst at the hostel. The time that they are at The Haven can be spent learning, training and building their future, so when they move into the community they have increased opportunities in all areas of life and work. Children have expressed desires for computers through children’s meetings and feedback questionnaires. We would like to support this request and support improved opportunities increasing confidence and independence of women and children. We currently have very few computers in the hostels; existing computers (two) are old and unable to be repaired (donated or previously owned by staff). Often when women are in need of a computer there is no other option but to access staff computers which takes time and resource away from others in need. When women leave the hostels they will be encouraged by the resettlement team to access community library and IT centre’s and services e.g. UK Online. Monitoring • Questionnaires prior to learning around confidence; • Survey on prior knowledge of ICT; • Survey on use and benefits of available ICT; • Distance travelled identified through outcomes monitoring. Evaluation We will encourage continuous feedback from women and children on their experience of ICT at The Haven, mechanisms will include: questionnaires, children’s meetings, hostel meetings, diaries and case studies. Women and children accessing ICT will be from a wide range of backgrounds and some will have complex mental health needs including drug and alcohol issues. It is expected that around 420 women and children will benefit from ICT equipment in the hostels every year. Finance IT Requirements for resident women and children Hostel 1 ex VAT Computer for lounge (Dell OptiplexTM 755, Small Form Factor) £ 529.00 Computer for children £ 529.00 Speakers x 2 (Logitech Z-10 Speakers from Misco at £39.99) £ 79.98 Hostel 2 Computer for lounge £ 529.00 Printer (HP LASERJET P3005N MONO LASER from Misco) £ 348.88 Speakers (Logitech Z-10 Speakers from Misco) £ 39.99 Hostel 3 Monitor (Dell E198FP 19-inch LCD Flat Panel Monitor (Black TCO'99) £ 159.00 Chair £ 45.00 Speakers (Logitech Z-10 Speakers from Misco) £ 39.99 Hostel 4 Computer for lounge £ 529.00 Speakers (Logitech Z-10 Speakers from Misco) £ 39.99 Hostel 5 Computer for dining room £ 529.00 Desk (Clear Glass Metropolitan Desk from Argos) £ 92.77 Chair Hostel 6 Computer for lounge £ 529.00 Desk (Clear Glass Metropolitan Desk from Argos) £ 92.77 Speakers (Logitech Z-10 Speakers from Misco) £ 39.99 Chair £ 45.00 Printer (HP LASERJET P3005N MONO LASER from Misco) £ 348.88 Computer for Children's Room £ 529.00 Total ex VAT: £ 5,075.24 VAT: £ 888.17 Total inc VAT: £ 5,963.41